Portable electric-light stand



out. 27,19%. lgsssus Wvfi PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT STAND Fleg? S pt. 25, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet? 1 .s fJ I ,1.9 (4 0 30 51.9 @mfg Mx??? ocr. 27,1925. 1,558,658

l s. wlMMEn PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT STAND Filed Sept. 26. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 naamw Patented ct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES STEFAN WIMMER, OF WEST NEW YORKNEW JERSEY;

:PORTABLE ELECTRIC-LIGHT STAND.

Appucanon ala september ze, 1924. serial No. 740,065. f

To all 11:71am t may concern.' n

Be it known that 1, Safin-AN Villarrica, a citizen ot the Republic ot Austria, residing at Vest New York, in the county of Hudson and State ot New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Portable Electric-Light Stands; and I do hereby declare the Jfollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in portable elect-ric light stands and has tor its object to provide a stand so constructed that, in addition to its regular base, the stand shall be provided with means permitting the stand to be secured to various objects, suoli as the arm of a chair or other objects where it may be desirable to secure the same.

The various features et novelty and invention willappear trom the detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying two sheets ot drawings forming part of these speciiications.

vReferring to the drawings:V

Fig. 1 is anl elevation of the improved lamp stand, parts ot the base being broken away to illustrate certain features ot construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line Q-Q of Fig. 1.` l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view ot the mechanism at the top of the lamp sta-nd.

Fig. l is a sectional view taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 3.

- Fig. 5 is aview showing how the lamp stand may be secured to a fiat object, the base members ot the stand being utilized in 4conjunction with clamping means within the pedestal.

Fig. 6 isa horizontal section through the lamp stand.

Fig. 7 is a view showing how the stand may be secured to a round object by clamping means contained within thc pedestal ot the saine.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detailed view of a modified form ot structure, namely, the flexible clamping member and Vassociated it'ulcruming means. y

In the drawings number 1 indicates the electric lamp, 2 the socket within which the said lamp is received, and 3 the wires carry- `ing current to the lamp. The pedestal torni.-

ing part ot the lamp stand is generally iudicated by numeral 4 and at the bottom of the same is iixedly secured a collar 5 having an annular bottom iange. 6, the top ot' the collar being threaded to receive a ring nut 7. Surrounding the collar between the flange 6 and nut 7 is a ring 8 having a laterally extending bracket 9 in the nature of spaced lugs between which the lamp socket 2v is turnably supported as by means ot a pin 10. The lamp supporting ring 8 is turnably mounted on the collar 5 so as to permit the lamp to be swung around the pedestal.

Turnably mounted. on the lamp supporting ring 8 is a member 11 provided with outwardly extending ears or lugs 12 and 13, these lugs forming supports for base inembers 14 and 15. As shown in Fig. 6 these base members are of sufficient area to support the pedestal in a stable upright position when the said members are arranged as in Fig..1. Each base member is provided with a lug 16 tor connection between their respective pairs of lugs 12 and 13.

Each of the base members 14 and 15 isv provided with a stoplug 17 adapted to bear against the annulant-lange 6 on the colla-r 5 and with a sto-p lug 18 adapted to bear against the ring member 11 to which said base members are connected, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. These stop lugs on the base members prevent said members from turning about their hinges, as will be readily understood.

Means are providedk to permitsaid base members 14e andA 15 to be turned downwardly with respect to the pedestal, for a purpose hereinafter mentioned. To permitthis turning of the base members the flange 6 is provided with diametrically opposed re-entrant or cut-out portions 19 into which the bottom stop lugs 18 may be received when the ring 11 to which they are hinged is given a quarter revo-lution from the position shown in Fig. 1. The base members vmay then be swung about their hinges in a position as shown in Fig. 5, said members then functioning `like jaws for clamping an object,

such as a tabletop T between them with the aid ot mechanism presently to be described. Each base. member 14 ad]acent its rim is provided with pocket-like member generally vindicated by numeral 20, and constituted bya plate 21 suitably secured to the base members.

Adjustably mounted on the pedestal 11 is vshifted on the pedestal.

a sleeve 22 having pivoted thereto at opposite sides, as at 23, levers 24, the lower end of each of which has an angular extension 25 adapted to enter any one of a series of openings in the pedestal l, .it being` understood that the sleeve is provided with an opening through which said extensions may project, as clearly indicated in Fig. Q3. lV hen the upper extremities 2T o'f said levers are pressed toward each other, the angular extensions 25 of the same will be removed from the openings in the pedestal, vthus permitting the sleeve to be bodily Means are provided for normally retaining said extensions 25 in said openings 26, said means constituting springs 2T arranged within the cylindrical housing members Q18 on opposite sides of the sleeve 22, said spring pressingagainst plungers 29 located in the ends of said housing members, said plungers bearing against the 'terminal ends 2T or" said lever 24.

The lever carrying sleeve 22 is surrounded by an internally threaded nut 30, the nut being suitably confined by means of annular flanges or rings 3l and attached to the sleeve in any suitable manner.

At this point it lmay be stated th-at` the pedestal l is conveniently made in the term of a rectangular 'tube and 'consequently Athe sleeve 22 has a rectangular opening. Also the, terminals 27 of tl'relevers '2e-are made wide enough so that the pair of' springs 28 may be employed for spread-ing them apart, the springs being located 'on opposite 'sides of the sleeve. j

The vpedeilt'al et 'is provided "with fa longitudinalgslot 83 in each 'of a pair of 'opposed side walls. Arranged 4within fthe pedestal is a transversely extending plate 'having trunnion-like extensions extending th-rougl'i the side slots 53 and secured vto the sides of the 'sleeve 22, as indicated at 35 in Figa. Then the sleeve 22 is shifted along `the pedestal 4, said plate 34E is moved therewith. Also arranged within :the pedestal and extending `transversely rtherein is a 'plate 36 having trunnion-lile members' extending through the tube slots and provided with lthreads attheir ends for engagement with the 'threads of the nut 30. It will now be seen that when the nut is turned, the plate 36 will bev caused to Atravel toward or from the plate, depending uponV the direction of rotation of the nut 30. l Said plate 36 constitutes a carrier to which are secured 'two flexible ribbons 3S. rllhese ribbons pass through slots in the lplate and extend downwardly towards the end of the pedestal. On each of the ribbons is slidably mounted a plurality of prisms in the form ot wedge-like members 39, the small ends ot ,these wedges facing each other, To the lower end of the ribbons is fixably secured a block e() to prevent the wedges from sliding of the ribbons. The plate 34 serves as .an abutment against which the upper wedge members .will abut.

Assuming now that it is desired to secure the lamp `stand to a round or irregularshaped object, as indicated by the letter it in Fig. 7, the ribbons are extended through the bottom `of the pedestal for a sul'icient distance by shifting the sleeve 32 along the pedestal, this shifting being attainable by releasing the locking levers 24 as already explained. Upon turning of the nut v3() in such direction that the threaded carrier plate 36 will be moved away from thel abutment 'plate Si secured to the sleeve 22, the wedges 39 will first Contact on their outer adjacent edgesl Lll and will tend to fulcrum on suoli edges, with the result that the ribbons passing through the wedges will assume a Curved form, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, thereby securely gripping the object R therebetween. The degree of 'curvature imparted to the ribbon will obviously depend upon the angle between the sides of the wedges, thegreater the'angle the greater the curvature that may be given ribbons.

By reason of the fact that the ribbons tend to assume an arcuate torni when the wedges are drawn together, a flat object is notgripped as firmly as a round or irregular-shaped object. To 'overcome this difficulty, the base members 14 and 15 Amay be employed in conjunction with the flexible members. As indicated in Fig. 5, the base members 14C and 15 may be turned in such a manner that they constitute 'jaws between which al1-object may be clamped. Aspreviously stated, the members vlll and l5 are provided with pockets Q0 and intotlies'e pockets the ends `o'i the Aflexible members are inserted. Upon turning the nut 30 to draw the wedges together, a clamping action will be obtainedon said members 1-1- and l5, as will now be readily understood, it being remembered that the tendency is for the terminal ends of the flexible members to approach each other when the wedges are drawn together.

It Will be seen that the 'underlying principle of the improved clamping means resides in the fact that there is combined in the flexible member a v'plurality of elements of such shape that when drawn together in abutting relation the flexible element will be caused to assume a curved condition, the preferred form of said element being wedges. However, 1t 1s possible to use elements which are not wedge-shaped, as for example, round members or rods, the ribbon passingthrough said rods'a't one sideof the'center thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein the round rods are indicated by numeral As the rods are drawn together they willfirst contact at lUS points 43 at one side of the ribbon, and the fulcrum will then shift toward the ribbon as same begins to take on a curvature. y

lVhile I have described a construction with considerable particularity as to detail, it is to be understood that no limitations are intended except as may be called for in the appended claims. Thus, while I have illustrated the pedestal as being a rectangular tube, the same might very well be a tube of different cross-section. Other constructional details may also be varied without departing` from the spirit of the invention.

lVhat I claim is:

l. The combination in a clamping device, of a tube, a flexible member disposed lengthwise in said tube, a movable carrier within said tube to which one end of said member is attached, a plurality of fulcrum elements slidably mounted on said member, a stop at the free end of said member to hold said elements in place on the same, moans on said tube for moving said carrier, an abutment within said tube ixedly supported with respect to said means whereby said carrierl may be moved with respect to said abutment, the said fulcrum elements being` disposed on said flexible member below said abutment and the said member passing through said abutment, the stop-carrying end ot said flexible member extending beyond the adjacent end of said tube, said fulcrum elements, when said carrier is moved away from said abutment, adapted to impart a curved form to that portion of the flexible member extending beyond the tube.

2. rlhe combination specified in claim l, and means associated with said tube forming a jaw member between which and said flexible member an object may be clamped at the extended end oi said member.

3, The combination in a clamping device, of a tube, a flexible member disposed lengthwise in said tube, a movable carrier within said tube to which one end of said member is attached, a plurality of iulcrum elements slidably mounted on said member, a stop at the free end of said member to hold said elements in place on the same, means on said tube for moving said carrier, an abutment within said tube fixedly supported with respect to said means whereby said carrier may be moved with respect to said abutment, the said fulcrum elements being disposed on said flexible member below said abutment and the said member' passing through said abutment, the stop-carrying end oi said flexible member extending beyond the adjacent end of said tube, said fulcrum elements, when said carrier is moved away from said abutment, adapted to impart a curved form to that portion of Athe flexible member extending beyond the tube, and a second flexible member and ulcrum elements similarly disposed within said tube in opposed relation to the other vflexible member, whereby` the two said members at their extended ends cooperate to form means for anchoring the device to an object.

el. The combination specified in claim Z3, the said fulcrum elements having their fulcrum points disposed between said tube and adjacent flexible member, whereby said flexible members may e curved toward each other to constitutea gripping claw at their external ends.

5. The combination specified in claim 3,

and a pair of jaws hinged to said tube, said bers, the latter adapted to close said jaws about an object. v

'7. In conibination, a tube, a sleeve longitudinally adjustable on said tube, an internally threaded nut carried by said sleeve, an abutment within said tube having its opposite ends extending through longitudinally extending slots in said tube and anchored to said sleeve, a plate arranged within said tube and threadedly engaged by said nut whereby to be shifted thereby, a pair of flexible members secured at one end of. said plate and extending through openings in the abutment toward the bottom ofthe tube, a plurality of fulcrum elements slidably received on euch of` said flexible members bctween said abutment and .thefrce ends of said flexible members, said elements having cooperating fulcrum points at one side of the flexible members, whereby as said elements are drawn toward ea oh otheiI a curved condition will be imparted tothe flexible members.

In combination, a pedestal, members hinged to one end of the pedestal and together constituting in one position a base for supporting the pedestal in upright position and in another position constituting a pair of jaws between which an object may be gripped, and means extending through said pedestal adapted to close said jaws about the object.

9. In combination, va tube,[a turn'able ring mounted on said tube at one end thereof, a pair of base members hinged to said ring, a laterally extending flange extending around the said end of the tube and having cutou-ts at opposite sides thereof, said hinged members adapted to be locked in laterally extending position by said vflange and when the ring is turned to a given position adapted to be swung on their hinges toward each other, and means adapted to close said members about an object.

l0. A portable electric light stand comorising in combination, a tube having two longitudinally extending slots and spaced openings in mutually opposed relation, a sleeve adjustably mounted on said tube, means carried by said sleeve for cooperating with said openings to lock the sleeve in position, a pair ot transversely extending members: within the tube having extensions projecting through said slots,y one ot said members being anchored to the sleeve and the other relatively movable, a nut carried by said sleeve for moving the said other member, a pair ot liexible ribbons anchored to said movable member and extending through the other member, ulcrum blocks slidably carried by said ribbons below said anchored member, said ribbons adapted to be extended beyond ythe end of the tube by means oit said sleeve, a light-supporting lixture turnably mounted on said tube at the bottom thereo't', a pair of hinged base members turnably secured to the tube at the lower end ot same, said base members adapted to be swung toward each other to constitute clamping means, and said ribbons adapted to exert clamping action ot said clamping means.

1l. In a gripping device, the combination of a flexible member, a plurality of tulcrum elements slidably received on said member. said elements 'having fulcrum points at one side of said member, whereby as 'said elements are forced toward each other abending of said member will be eiiected.

l2. In a gripping device, the combination of a flexible member, and a plurality ot' wedge members slidably mounted on said member.

v13. ln a gripping device, the combination ot a flexible ribbon, and a plurality of wedge members slidably mounted on said ribbon.

'14. In a gripping device the combination of a pair of iiexible members, a plurality of slidable tulcrum elements on said members, said elements adapted to initially fulcrum on each other at one sidev ot said flexible members, an abutment through which said members pass at one of their ends, and means for moving said members with respect `to said abutment, said elements when drawn toward each other imparting a curved form to said flexible members.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

STEFAN VIMMER. 

